Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Machado's Nobel Prize Sparks Festival Boycott
María Corina Machado is a brave woman from Venezuela who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
She defied a travel ban to attend the ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
Some authors from Colombia and the Dominican Republic are upset that she was invited to a big book festival in Cartagena, Colombia.
They don't like that she supports strong actions by the US against Venezuela's government and that she is friends with some leaders they don't like.
The festival says they just want to have open discussions and don't agree with everything she says.
This shows how people in Latin America have different ideas about what is best for their countries.
María Corina Machado defied a travel ban to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.
Three authors boycotted the Hay Festival Cartagena over Machado's invitation due to her support for US policies and far-right alliances.
The authors view Machado's stance as a threat to regional sovereignty and a validation of US interventionism.
The Hay Festival maintains that inviting Machado does not equate to endorsing her views and stands by its commitment to free exchange of ideas.
Machado's presence at the festival highlights the ongoing political divisions in Latin America.
- Who
- María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Venezuelan opposition leader
- What
- A boycott of the Hay Festival Cartagena by three authors over the invitation of María Corina Machado
- When
- After the announcement of Machado's inclusion in the festival
- Where
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Why
- The authors object to Machado's support for US pressure and military action against Venezuela, as well as her alliances with far-right leaders.
Authors' Boycott
Festival's Stance
US Pressure and Military Action
Authors' Boycott
Machado's support for US pressure and potential military intervention against Venezuela is seen as a threat to regional sovereignty and aligns with a history of US interventionism in Latin America.
Festival's Stance
The Hay Festival believes in the free exchange of ideas and does not endorse any specific stance by inviting speakers.
Far-right Alliances
Authors' Boycott
Machado's alliances with far-right leaders like Javier Milei, Jair Bolsonaro, and José Antonio Kast are viewed as problematic and indicative of right-wing authoritarianism.
Festival's Stance
The festival maintains that providing a platform for dialogue does not equate to endorsing the views of the speakers.
Platform as Endorsement
Authors' Boycott
Inviting Machado to the festival is seen as validating her stance and providing an ideological weapon, which the authors reject as normalizing calls for force.
Festival's Stance
The festival respects the authors' decisions but stands by its commitment to neutral dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
- Name
- María Corina Machado
- Title
- Nobel Peace Prize Winner
- Location
- Oslo, Norway
- Event
- Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
- Status
- Fugitive in Venezuela
- Message
- Repression cannot erase legitimacy
- Intention
- Return to Venezuela
- Festival
- Hay Festival Cartagena
- Authors' Nationalities
- Two from Colombia, one from the Dominican Republic
- Reason for Boycott
- Objection to Machado's support for US policies and far-right alliances
Sources
Defiant Return
Nobel Peace laureate Machado doing well despite injured back, no longer in Oslo
Why Hay Festival Cartagena faces an author boycott over Nobel winner María Corina Machado
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Sues Nobel Panel Over Peace Prize To Machado
Nobel Winner Maria Machado "Doing Well" Despite Injured Back, No Longer In Oslo
